Mining machine



F. CARTLIDGE.'

MININGMACHINE.

APPLICATION man JUNE 24,1918- 1,41 7,71 6. Patented May 30, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET L 3 8 as Eig. 1.

I Z P flu $1 9.6. I ey UNITED Elhr'f .FAZiEhlT OFFICE.

FRANK CARTLIDGE, 01? GLAREMONT, NEW' HAMPSHIRE, ASSIG-l l'OR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

1,417,716, Spa

Application filed June 24, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANK. Can'rilincn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Claremont, in the county of Sullivan and titate of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mining Machines, of which the following is a full. clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to mining machines.

It has heretofore been proposed to propel a mining machine about the mine by the direct connection of the mining machine mo tor to the truck; a friction clutch, usually in the form of a disk clutch, being interposed between the motor and the truck wheels and utilized as either the driving mechanism or the braking mechanism during the movement of the track over the rails. Such propelling means have. however. been open to serious objections due to the fact that the clutch, especially when friction disks are employed, is subject to wear or is not sutiiciently powerful to give the desired braking effect in emergencies. A. further objection. to this n'opelling mechanism arises from the fact that. due to the character tl'lcz'eof. the same is not adapted to withstand the rough usage to which it subjected by the average unskilled operatm'. so that parts fremiently have to be replaced. with a resultingloss in efficiency and time.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved means for propelling the mining machine about the mine. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved and more powerful propel] mecha nism which is exceedingly durable and of a character such that even the most unskilled ope at nay not cause breakage thereof. I in these and other objects hereinafter set forth bv interposing between the driving motor of the mining machine and the truck wheels an improved hydraulic pump driven from. the mining machine and itself driving an iinprrwed h nlraulic motor operatively connected to the trucl; wheels. all as iereinafter n'zore fully brought out.

in the accompanying drawings 1 have shown for purposes of illustration two embodiments which my invention may assume in practice.

in these drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mining ma chine equipped with my improvement.

Zfication of Letters Eat-cut.

Patented May 30, 1922.

Serial No. 241,723.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 9 2- of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of F ig. 1.

Fig. 4- is a vertical sectional View taken on line -i4- of Fig. 3.

F 5 is a view generally similar to Fig. l, but with parts shown in elevation, showing a modified construction.

In this illustrative construction it will .be noted that I have shown in Fig. 1 a minoperatively connected. through improved operative connections hereinafter described, to a driven member, herein shown in the form of a gear 8 carried upon a vertically disposed shaft 9 and. adapted to be engaged and driven by the driving member 2 on'the mining machine when the latter is in position on the truck.

-Referring more particularly to my 1111- proved construction, and to Figs. 2, 8, and 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that the shaft 9 is journaled in suitable bearings formed in top and bottom plates 10 and 11 suitably attached, as by bolts 12. to a motor I casing 13 which is. as showm liquid tight and constitutes a reservoir for a liquid transmission element, preferably of viscous character, such. for example, as a heavy oil. It will also be noted that a substantially cylindrical pump body 14- is adapted to be rotated lwv this shaft within a suitable, herein upright. eccentric bore 15 in an inner casing 16. This pump body 14- is provided herein with blades or wings I? radially reciprocable relalive to the body. under the action of coiled springs 18 carried on pins 19 at the ends of the body 14. and adapted to operate in the eccentric bore 15 of the casing 16. said blades being held by the springs 18 with their ends in enga ementwith the interior of said bore, and being consequently moved inwardlyand outwardly EtS.5tllB pump body is rotated. It

will also be noted that the casing is provided with suitable longitudinally disposed packing strips 20 disposed preferably in the diametrically opposite positions shown, and at the ends of the shortest diameter of the bore 15, in order that these strips may cooperate with the blades 17 in the effectual operation of the mechanism. Here, moreover, it will be noted that fluid is supplied to the rotating element of the pump through preferably diametrically opposite inlets 21 and 22, and that the same is discharged from the pump under pressure through the preferably diametrically opposite outlet ports 23 and 24.

From these outlet ports 23 and 24, it will be noted that the liquid, which is drawn from the reservoir in the casing 13 and placed under pressure by the pump, is de-.

livered through passages 25 and 26, (of which the former is herein shown as including an elongated arcuate passage formed in the wall of the casing 16), into a common, relatively wide passage 27 opening at right angles through a suitable communicating passage 28 into a valve casing or chamber 29 formed in the upper part of the casing 13. Longitudinally movable in this chamber '29 is a suitable valve, heroin shown in the form of a double spool valve having spools 30, 31 on its opposite ends operatively connected by a reduced portion 32 and longitudinally movable in either direction by means of the movement of a suitable controlling lever 33, herein shown as pivoted at 34 on a suitable bracket 35 on the casing 13 and also pivotally connected at 36 to the valve rod 37. Here it will also be noted that the valve carries between its spools 30 and 31, and on its upper side, a member 38 in the form of a curved plate fitting the interior of the valve casing and having a slot 39 therein; The slot 39 cooperates with, and is slightly larger than, a port 40 formed in the upper part of the valve casing and communicating with a passage 41, which in turn communicates with a passage 42 leading back into the reservoir. It will also be observed that the spools 30 and 31 of the valve act, respectively, to control the flow of fluid through suitable passages 43 and 44 leading downwardly from the valve casing, so that the same may supply the motive fluid for driving the motor hereinafter described. Here it will be particularlv noted that the slot 39 and port 40 are so proportioned with respect to the spools 30 and 31 and the mouths of the passages 43 and 44 that when one of the latter passages is opened the port 40 is closed a proportionate amount.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, each of the passages 43 and 44 communicates with an eccentric bore 45 formed in a suitable casing46 and of sub- 15. Disposed within the bore 45 is a motor body 47 fixed to and rotatable with the shaft 7. and having slidably mounted blades 43 operatively connected with springs 49 mounted on pins 50, said motor body correspond.- ing, preferably though not necessarily, in all respects, with the pump body above described. As shown, the bore 45 is herein also provided with suitable diametrically opposite, longitudinally extending packing strips 51, corresponding to the packing strips 20. It will be noted in this connection, however, that the passages 43 and 44 do not open into the bore 45 through a single aperture corresponding to the inlets 21 and 22 of the pump. Instead it will be observed that the motor is balanced through an improved distribution of .the driving fluid. More specifically, it will be noted that herein the passage 43 communicates with a port 52 and with an elongated arcuate passage 53 formed in the wall of the casing 46, which in turn communicates through a port 54 with the bore 45 at a point substantially diametrically opposite the port 52. It will also be observed that the passage 44 similarly communicates with a port 55 and with a passage 56 similar to the passage 53, which opens through a port 57 at a point similarly opposite the port 55.

It will here also be noted that, by the provision of suitable enlarged ports 58, 59 in the passages 43 and 44 opening into the valve chamber 29, provision is made for the exhaust of the pressure fluid fromthe motor to the valve chamber, and therefromto the casing 0r reservoir, the ends of the valve casing beyond the ends of the valve being provided with ports 61 which communicate with said reservoir.

In the operation of my improved construction, it will be observed that when rotation is transmitted from the driving member 2 to the driven member 8, the shaft 9 is rotated in such a manner as to rotate the pump body 14. As a result, the blades 17 are carried around in the eccentric bore 15 in such a manner as to draw into that bore the transmission fluid from the casing 13 through the inlets 21 and 22, and drive the same out under pressure through the discharge ports 23 and 24, into the passages 25, 26, and 27. As these passages communicate with the passage 28 and the valve chamber, when the valve occupies the position shown in Fig. 4 the fluid will pass back into the casing 13 through the passages 41 and 42. hen, however, the spool 30 is moved to the left from the position shown in Fig. 4, the port 40 will be closed, by the movement of the slot 39 relative to the same proportionate to the amount of opening of the port 58 by the spool 30in such a manner as to cause the amount of fluid flowing back into the casing or reservoir and out to the motor t be in versely proportionate. In other words, the constant pump discharge will be divided, a portion thereof, depending'upon the degree of opening of the port 58 by the spool 30, being delivered to the motor, and theremainder being exhausted to the reservoir, until the port 58 is fully open, when the port 40 will be entirely closed and the full pump discharge will be directed to the motor. As a result of the flow oi fluid through the passage 43, it will be evident that fluid will be supplied to the motor through the ports 52 and 54 in such a manner as to act simultaneously on two of the blades 48 of the motor, and thereby, through the enlarged area obtainable, produce a powerful torque on the motor or truck driving shaft. Simultaneously with the opening of the port 58 by the spool 30 placing the same in communication with the'inlet 28, the port 59 will be opened to a similar extent by the spool 31 and placed in communication with the corresponding port 61, so that the exhaust from the motor will be discharged through the ports 55 and 57, passage in, and port 59 to the right end of the valve casing 29, and thence through the port 61 to the reservoir. Conversely, when it is desired to reverse the direction of rotation of the driving shaft, it will be evident that this may bereadily accomplished by simply reversing the move ment of the valve in its casing, and causing the fiuid to be admitted through the passage 4a and the ports 55 and 57 and exhausted through the ports 52 and 54: and passage 43. It will also be noted that when it is desired to brake the truck, as for instance, when the same is drifting down hill and the mining machine motor is rotating the pump, it is possible to obtain a back pressure in the motor by simply reversing the movement of the valve in such a manner as to partly close the ports leading to and from the motor.

In the use of my improved crmstruction, wherein the intermediate pump and cooperating motor are disposed between the minmg machine and the truck wheels, it will be observed that it is possible to obtain a very powerful and readily controlled propelling and braking mechanism. It will also beobserved that it is possible to operate this mechanism-under a relatively low hydraulic pressure, and to utilize a relatively thiclr liquid transmission element, such for instance as a heavy oil. Attention is also directed to the fact that, through the provision of my improved means for proportionately and simultaneously controlling the supply of fluid to the motor and the reservoir, it is possible entirely to eliminate any load on the pump and thus ell'ectually prevent breakage, even should the valve be operated by an unskilled or ignorant operator, such as is so often encountered in the field.

By the use of my improved means for distributing the motive fluid to the motor, it will also be observed that I am ableto obtain a motor which is exceedingly power- 1 liability to breakage is concerned, it will also be observed that the mechanism shown is exceedingly rugged and of such a char actor that it requires no further attention than the supply of oil to the casing 13 at long intervals, all diiiiculty With the wearing out of the parts due to the lack of lubricant being entirely overcome.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings, it will be noted that I have shown a modified form of the construction, which may be utilized to carry out certain of the features of my invention. In this form of my invention it will be noted that the construction and arrangement of parts is substantially the same as that described above in connection with Figs. 1 to i. However, in this instance it will be observed that the ports a3 and as lead directly down from the valve chamber into the eccentric bore 45 for the motor, the same being disposed on opposite sides of the upper packing strip 51, while separate exhaust ports 62, leading directly from the motor chamber a5 to the reservoir, are provided, the ports 61 of the construction shown in Fig. 4: being omitted. In order to prevent inter terence with the operation of the valve due to the accumulation of leakage in the ends of the valve chamber, the latter maybe provided with suitable vents 63. Obviously, the motor shown in Fig. 5 will not be as powerful for a given hydraulic. pressure as that illustrated in Fig. 4:, in view of the fact that the area of the motor blades acted upon only one-half that obtained by the use of the branch ports above described. It will be evident. however, that by a suitable proportioning or the pump and motor, such an arrangement will be adapted to use in many instances. These and other advantages' of my improved construction will, however, be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

lVhile l have in this application specifically described two embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are used for purposes of illustration only, and that the invention may be further modified and embodied in various other forms utilizing pumps and pressure. motors of different types without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a wheeled truck and a mining machine mounted thereon and including a motor, of a hydraulic motor operatively connected with the wheels of said truck, a pump drivenby said mining machine motor for supplying liquid to said hydraulic motor, and valve mechanism be tween said pump and said hydraulic motor for controlling the movements of said truck.

2. The combination with a mining machine including a motor and a wheeled truck for transporting said mining machine, of a hydraulic motor operatively connected with the wheels of said truck, a pump on said truck for supplying liquid to .said hydraulic motor, a driving member for said pump, a cooperating driving member on said mining machine driven by the motor thereof, said last named driving member engaging said pump driving member when said machine is in position on said truck, and valve mechanism between said pump and hydraulic motor for controlling the movements of said truck,

,3. The combination with a wheeled truck and a mining machine mounted thereon and including a motor, of a hydraulic motor operatively connected with the wheels of said truck, a pump driven by said mining machine motor, and valve mechanism between said'pump and hydraulic motor for controlling the discharge from said pump operable to direct said discharge to said motor, to exhaust the same idly, or to admit any portion thereof to said motor while exhausting the remainder.

4. The combination with a mining ma chine including a motor and a wheeled truck for transporting said mining machine, of a hydraulic motor operatively connected with the wheels of said truck, a pump on said truck for supplying liquid to said motor, a driving member for said pump, a cooperative driving member on said mining machine driven by the motor thereof, said last named member being connectible with said pump driving member when said machine is in position on said truck, and means for controlling movement of said truck comprising means controlling the discharge from said pump and operable to direct the same to said motor to cause operation there of in either direction.

5. The combination with a mining machine truck, of means for propelling the same including a hydraulic motor, a pump for supplying liquid to said motor, and means for controlling the discharge from said pump and its admission to said motor including a single valve operable to direct any portion thereof to cause operation of said motor in either direction, and simultaneously to exhaust a portionof said discharge inversely proportional to the amount admitted to said motor, said valve when in mid-position being operative to isolate said motor.

6. The combination with a mining machine truck, of means for propelling the same including a hydraulic motor havlng a plurality of ports each adapted to admit liquid to said motor or to exhaust the same therefrom to cause said motor to exert its power in one direction or the other with respect to the direction of'movement of said truck, a pump for supplying liquid to said motor, and valve mechanism for controlling truck movement controlling the discharge from said pump and including a valve casing having ports communicating with said motor port-s, respectively, and an exhaust port, and a valve movable in opposite directions to open either of the first named ports in said casing a variable amount and simultaneously to close said exhaust port a proportionate amount, said valve when in mid-position leaving said exhaust port open and completely closing both of said first named ports.

7. The combination with a mining machine truck, of means for propelling the same including a rotary hydraulic motor having oppositely disposed inlet ports and oppositely disposed exhaust ports arranged adjacent said inlet ports, respectively, a pump for supplying liquid to said motor, and means for driving said pump operatively connectiblewith a mining machine on said truck.

8. Thc combination with a mining machine truck. of means for propelling the same including a rotary hydraulic inotor having oppositely disposed pairs of ports, each of the ports of each. pair being adapted to admit liquid to said motor or to exhaust the same therefrom, a pump for supplying liquid to said motor, and means for controlling trucl: movement controlling the discharge from said pump and operable to direct said discharge to either of the ports of the several pairs to cause operation of said motor in either direction.

9. The combination with a wheeled truck, of a motor .carrying mechanism movable thereon, a driven member on said truck connectible with the motor thereof, a pump driven by said driven member, a motor driven by said pump and operatively connected with the truck wheels, and means for controlling the rotation of said wheels.

10. The combination with a wheeled truck, of a motor carrying mechanism movable thereon, a driven member on said truck connectible with the motor thereof, a pump driven by said driven member, a motor driven by said pump and operatively connected with the truck wheels, and means con trolling the P p discharge and the rotation of said wheels.

11. The combination with a mining ma chine truck adapted to receive a mining machine having provision for driving a truck driving mechanism, oi a shock absorbing truck driving mechanism having a member driven directly by said mining machine, driven truck Wheels, and connections therebetxveen comprising a hydraulic power trans mission means.

12. The combination With a mining machine tr ck adapted to receive a mining machine having provision for driving a truck driving mechanism, of a shock absorbing truck driving mechanism having a member driven directly by said mining machine, driven truck Wheels, and connections there between comprising normally inoperative hydraulic power transmission means.

The combination with a mining ma chine truck adapted to receive a mining machine having provision ifor driving a truck driving mechanism, of a shock absorbing truck driving mechanism comprising a hydraulic motor, a fluid outlet and a fluid inlet therefor, and a bypass connecting said outlet and inlet.

let. The combination With a mining machine truck adapted to receive a mining machine having provision for driving a truck driving mechanism, of a shock absorbing truck driving mechanism comprising a hydraulic. motor, a fluid outlet and a fluid inlet therefor, and a normally open bypass connecting said outlet and inlet.

15. The combination with a mining machine truck adapted to receive a mining machine having provision for driving a truck driving mechanism, of a shock absorbing truck driving mechanism comprising a member driven directly by said mining machine, and a normally freely movable motor driven by said member.

16. The combination With a truck and a mining machine adapted to slide thereon and to instantaneously connect with and drive a truck driving mechanism, of a truck driving mechanism comprising a rotor adapted to be driven by said mining machine and to start instantaneousl upon the connection of said mining mac ine therewith Without a load thereon.

In testimony Whereor I aflix my signature.

FRANK OARTLIDGE. 

